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Unreviewed Safety Questions
NUCLEAR SAFETY BASIS
USQ Contacts: Richard Englehart or Richard Stark
The USQ process is an important tool to evaluate whether a change affects the safety basis. DOE contractors for hazard category 1, 2, or 3 nuclear facilities must use the USQ process to ensure that the safety bases are not undermined by changes in the facilities or activities. The USQ process permits a contractor to make physical and procedural changes to a nuclear facility and to conduct tests and experiments without prior approval, provided these changes do not cause a situation that involves a USQ. The USQ process provides contractors with the flexibility needed to conduct day-to-day operations by requiring only those changes and tests with a potential to impact the safety basis (and therefore the safety of the nuclear facility) be approved by DOE. This allows DOE to focus its review on only those changes that have the potential to be significant to safety. The USQ process helps keeps the safety basis current by ensuring appropriate review of, and response to, situations that might adversely affect the safety basis. The USQ process also provides requirements to address
the discovery of potential inadequacies of the safety analysis.
| Requirements |
Read 10 CFR Part 830, Nuclear Safety Management to see the requirements for USQs. Specific requirements for USQs are established in Section 830.203 of the rule. DOE contractors must get DOE approval of their USQ procedures.
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| Guidance |
DOE G424.1-1, Implementation Guide for Addressing Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) Requirements on our Directives Web Page for additional guidance on how to meet the requirements for USQs.
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This page was last updated on January 05, 2007
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